Northwest Africa 5980 Meteorite Quick Facts
- Name: Northwest Africa 5980
- Year Discovered: 2009
- Approximate Recovery Location: Morocco
- Precise Recovery Location: (0.0, 0.0)
- Mass: 298 grams
- Classification: Winonaite
- Discovery Type: Found
- Condition: Valid
More Details About the Northwest Africa 5980 Meteorite
The Northwest Africa 5980 meteorite was discovered in 2009. It was recovered in Morocco (0.0, 0.0). It has a mass of 298 grams.
Northwest Africa 5980 is considered a “Valid” meteorite. “Valid” meteorites are typical meteorites with average weathering, while “relict” meteorites are those that have been extremely altered, either due to weathering over time or human intervention.
Northwest Africa 5980’s official classification is Winonaite. A “Winonaite” is a type of meteorite that belongs to the winonaite group. These meteorites are classified as primitive achondrites, meaning they have lost their chondritic texture due to heating and partial melting but still have a composition similar to chondrites. Winonaites are equigranular rocks that may contain relict chondrules and have mineralogy and composition similar to chondrites, but they are more reduced in nature compared to H chondrites and are related to silicate inclusions found in IAB complex irons.
The Northwest Africa 5980 meteorite is a “Found” meteorite. Meteorites are classified as “falls” if they were observed falling and recovered, while “finds” are those discovered later, often weathered by longer exposure to Earth’s environment and without a record of being seen as they fell.
Do you have information about the Northwest Africa 5980 meteorite? Share it with us.
Learn More About Meteorites
Discover more meteorites with our interactive meteorite map.
And get more meteorite facts, updates, news, and more by checking out our meteorite blog and signing up for our email newsletter:
Last Updated: 1/15/24